Tumbler lock structure



March 1, 1966 D. A. WILLIAMS 3,237,435

TUMBLER LOCK STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 6, 1964 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.6

DELEERT A. W/LL/AMS I/Vl EIVTOR.

BUCKHOHM BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS March 1, 1966 D. A.WILLIAMS 3,237,436

TUMBLER LOCK STRUCTURE Filed Jan. 6, 1964 s Sheets$heet 5 Fig. 4 2

Fig. /5

DELBERT A. WILL/4M5 INVENTOR. BY

BUG/(HORN, BLORE, KLAROU/ST 8 SPAR/(MAN ATTORNEYS United States Patent3,237,436 TUMBLER LOCK STRUCTURE Delbert A. Williams, 1057 SchurmanDrive, Salem, Greg. Filed Jan. 6, 1964, Ser. No. 335,957 16 Claims. (Cl.70-363) This invention relates to a tumbler lock structure andparticularly one in which the lock and key are so designed that pickingof the lock and duplication of the key are difiicult.

My prior patent, No. 3,084,532, shows a portable key safe which isdesigned so that it can be readily mounted or hung on the exterior of adwelling or other building structure and contains a key to suchstructure. The key safe, and similar key safes on other dwellings, canbe opened by use of a common special key carried by the party having theright to enter such places.

In my portable key safe, I incorporate a lock structure wherein the lockand key are so designed that duplication of the key is difficult. Forinstance, on some of my locks I use a bell key and on other locks I usea duo key. Both of these types of keys are much more difficult toduplicate than are ordinary keys which are serrated only on one edge.While these lock structures give more security than ordinary keystructures, even higher security is desired if this is possible toobtain with reasonable expense.

It is the main object of the present invention to provide a lockstructure which is particularly useful with my portable key safe andwherein the key is much more difiicult to duplicate than is the key ofprior lock structures, and which lock structure can be manufactured fora cost not greately different from the common lock structure.

Another object of the invention is to provide a structure as describedabove in which the lock is more difficult to pick than prior locks usedfor such purposes.

Various other objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description taken in connection with the accompanying drawingswherein:

FIG. 1 is a vertical midsectional view through a portable key safe whichincorporates a lock structure of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view of the lock of my lockstructure taken from the front thereof, the view being taken generallyin the direction of the arrows 3-3 in FIG. 4, and on an enlarged scaleas compared to FIGS. 1 and 2;

FIG. 3A is a vertical section through the key taken along line 3-3 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a vertical midsectional view of my lock taken along lines 4-4of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a sectional view through the key taken along line 5-5 of FIG.3A, showing the key with reference to FIG. 4 in the position it wouldoccupy just before being inserted into the lock of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the key inserted intothe lock;

FIGS. 7, 8 and 9 are vertical cross sectional views through the locktaken along lines 7-7, 8-8 and 9-9, respectively, of FIG. 4;

FIG. 10 is a longitudinal sectional view through a modified form of keytaken along line 10-10 of FIG. 11;

FIG. 11 is an end view of the key of FIG. 10 taken in the direction ofthe arrows 11-11 of FIG. 10;

FIG. 12 is a longitudinal sectional view through another form of keytaken along line 12-12 of FIG. 13;

FIG. 13 is an end view of the key of FIG. 12 taken in the direction ofthe arrows 13-13 in FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is an end view of still another form of key; and

FIG. 15 is a view of a portion of the key prior to assembling the key.

Referring to the drawings, the lock structure of the present inventionis shown as being incorporated in a portable key safe of the type whichis intended to be mounted on a building structure or on an object near abuilding structure. The lock structure could obviously be incorporatedin other porable key safes and in other places as desired.

The key safe shown in FIG. 1 includes a mounting plate 11 secured byscrews 13 to a building structure 14. The mounting plate has a lowerhook portion 15 and an upper hook portion 17 to cooperate with a case 19and a lock structure S in securing the case to the mounting plate. Thecase has a lower flange 21 to fit in the lower hook portion 15 and thelock structure S has a latch element 23 to fit under the hook portion17. One or more keys, not shown, are contained within the case andusually secured to a chain which is attached to the case. By unlockingthe lock structure, the case 19 can be removed to gain access to thekeys within the case to enable the building structure to be opened.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, the lock structure S includes a tubularhousing H which is made up of a tubular shell 29 and a cap or closureportion 31. The shell 29 is formed with an enlarged head portion 33 forabutting engagement with the front of the case 19, as shown in FIGS. 1and 4. A spring clip 35 fits in notches formed in the outer surfaces ofthe shell 29 to secure the housing H to the case 19. The shell justrearwardly of the head portion 33 is non-circular to non-rotatably fitwithin a non-circular hole in the case 19.

The shell 29 has an inwardly extending rear flange 41. The cap member 31provides an inwardly extending flange at the forward portion of theshell 29. The cap is secured in place by working over at 43 certainportions of the front end of the shell 29. The cap has a fixed detent 44which fits within any one of six recesses 45 formed on the shell 29. Thereason for six recesses is explained hereinafter.

Prior to securing the cap to the shell 29, a barrel generally entitled Bis inserted into the housing H. The barrel is shown as comprising a rearsection B and a forward section B which are non-rotatably connectedtogether by a key 47 (FIG. 4). The barrel could be formed of one piece,but I have found it convenient to cast the rear section B of a die-castmetal and cast the part B from nylon or similar hard plastic material.For convenience in description, the barrel may at times be considered asbeing of one-piece construction. The barrel section B, has a rearwardlyprojecting non-circular stud on which the latch element 23 non-rotatablyfits.

The barrel is formed with a plurality or series of circumferentiallyspaced radial grooves 51 formed therein opening through the peripheralsurfaces of the barrel, as is evident from FIG. 4. These grooves extendlongitudinally of the barrel from the front end thereof through whichthey open rearwardly to a point near the rear end of the barrel, butspaced from such rear end. More specifically, the grooves extend past arearwardly facing shoulder 53 formed on the barrel section B to a pointapproximately even with the rear ends of a series of notches 55 (FIG. 4)formed in the flange 41. The notches 55 are in alignment with thegrooves 51 and are designed to accommodate a series of tumblers 57 undercertain operating conditions of the lock. The tumblers 57 are slidablymounted in the grooves 51.

Each of the tumblers is in the form of an elongate, flat metal piece ofrectangular cross section and of a size to substantially fill thegrooves 51 and thus have slidable engagement with the interior of theshell 29.

The cap 31 has a matching series of notches 59 which are in alignmentwith the notches 55. Each of such notches has a width substantially thesame as a groove 51 so that it can accommodate, receive and engage theassociated tumbler 57. A series of coil springs 61, contained in bores63 provided in the barrel section B are received within notches 65formed in the rear ends of the tumblers 57 to urge the tumblers toassume positions in which the forward ends thereof are received by thenotches 59.

At this point it is apparent that in the rest position of the lock, thetumblers 57 fit in the notches 59, as shown in FIG. 4, to prevent rotarymovement of the barrel B and thus of the latch member 23. It is alsoevident that if at the time a key is inserted in the lock all thetumblers 57 are not pressed rearwardly suificiently far to clear thenotches 59, the barrel B and thus the latch member 23 cannot be turned.It is further evident that if any of the tumblers are pressed rearwardlyan extent such as to engage the associated notch 55, this will preventrotary movement of the barrel and thus of the latch member 23.

The front barrel section B is provided with a circular concentric groove71 which groove surrounds a central stud portion 73 of the barrelsection B Each of the tumblers 57 has an axially extending notch 75(FIG. 4) formed therein which is in register wit-h the groove 71, as isevident from FIGS. 4 and 7. This groove provides a forwardly projectingfinger portion 77 to fit within a tubular portion 79 of a key K and alsoprovides a forwardly projecting outer portion 80 to engage in thenotches 59. The portion 30 is disposed adjacent the exterior of thetubular portion 79 of the key K when the key is inserted into the lock,as is apparent from FIG. 6.

The tubular portion 79 is adapted to bottom against the bottom wall ofthe circular groove 71 of the barrel section B as shown in FIG. 6 whenthe key is fully inserted into the lock.

Formed interiorly on the tubular portion 79 of the key K is a pluralityof fins 8-1 (FIGS. 3A and which have the same circumferential spacing asthe grooves 51. A guide lug 83 on the exterior of the tubular portion 79is adapted to fit (FIG. 4) within matching grooves, one 85 being formedon the cap 31, and the other 87 being one of six formed in the barrelsection B When the key is inserted into the lock with the lug fittingwithin the grooves 85 and 87, the fins 81 are located in alignment withthe finger portions 77 of the tumblers 57.

It is here pointed out that the cap 31 has a central c-oncentric opening89 of a size to accommodate the tubular portion 79, and, of course,accommodate the stud 73 of the barrel B The fins 81 are of varyinglengths and the fingers 77 are of varying lengths, and for a particularlock and key combination, the length of the fingers are of inverselength with respect to lengths of the fins 81. Thus, when the key K isfully inserted into the lock, all the tumblers are moved rearwardly tothe position shown in FIG. 6 to occupy intermediate positions in whichthey are free of the front or forward notches 59 and also of the rearnotches 55. Thus, in this position of the tumblers, when the key isrotated, the fins 81 will apply a thrust force in a circumferentialdirection against the radial walls of the grooves 51 to turn the barrelB and thus swing the latch arm or member 23. During such rotary movementor turning movement of the key K, the right-hand end of the lug 83, asthe parts are shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, moves within an arcuate recess 93(compare FIGS. 4 and 7) formed within the inner face of the cap 31.

Where the lock and key are of relatively small size, for instance, wherethe diameter of the tubular portion of the key is one-fourth inch orless, the fins 8-1 should be rather thin in order to adapt the key to bereadily manufactured without great difi'iculty. To assure properalignment of these thin fins with the somewhat thicker tumblers 57, theforward portions 95 of the grooves 51 are made narrower than theremaining portions of the grooves 51, as is evident by comparison ofFIGS. 3 and 4. These narrow groove portions thus serve as guides forguiding the thin fins 81 into full abutting engagement with the forwardend faces of the fingers or finger portions 77 and also conceal the codeof the finger portions 77 of the tumblers.

It is pointed out that the fins 81 can be provided in other ways than asshown in FIG. 5, i.e., other ways than being cast in place as anintegral part of the body metal. One way would be to insert steel finsin a mold and cast a body or shell to include such fins.

FIGS. 10 and 11 show a modified form of key in which the key body 101has a cylindrical socket 103 defined by a cylindrical wall portion 105and a bottom wall 107. A plurality of pins 109 are fixedly secured in acylindrical plug 110 in parallel relation to one another and in circulardisposition about the central axis of the body. The front faces of thepins are disposed in staggered relation longitudinally of the key tomatch the code or staggering of the front or end faces of the fingerportions 77 of the tumblers of the lock.

The cylindrical pin plug 110 has a press fit in the socket 103. The keybody has a guide lug 111 thereon, and the orientation of the plug 110relative to the guide lug 111 is determined by which of a plurality ofnotches 112 (FIG. 11) on the plug periphery is arranged in engagementwith a keying lug 113 formed on the interior of the cylindrical wallportion 105.

The code of a key can be determined at the time the plug is forced intothe key body, and plugs having pins with exactly the same pin heightscan be used to form different codes by orienting the plugs differentlyrelative to the guide lug 111.

The combination or code of the key can also be determined at the time akey is assembled by inserting one or more blank plugs, one 114 beingshown, into the socket 103 prior to inserting the pin plug 110 in place.

The pins 109 may be press fitted in a series of holes which are formedin the pin plug 110 and which are located in equally spaced relationalong a circle which is concentric with the axis of the plug. Of coursethe spacing of the pin holes (and thus the pins) could be unequal if thefinger portions 77 they are to engage are similarly unequally spaced. Ifdesired, the rear ends of the holes in the pin plug 110 can becountersunk to receive heads (not shown) on the pins 109 so that theextent of projection of the pins through the pin plug would bedetermined by the contact of such heads with the head.

It is possible to'cast the pins 109 directly into the body 101, but asubstantial saving is made by use of the FIG. 10 construction. Thereason for this is that the bodies of all keys will be identicalregardless of the code of the pins (with the FIG. 10 construction). Thusa large number of key bodies can be formed at one time and the codedetermined later as and when the various orders for keys and locks arereceived. On the other hand, if the code has to be determined at thetime of casting, the keys are custom made rather than mass produced, andthus are more expensive than the FIG. 10 key.

If desired, the pins 109, in FIG. 10 could be of noncircular crosssection fitting in similar cross section holes formed in the pin plug110.

The key of FIGS. 10 and 11, and the other keys of the present invention,may be grasped and manipulated by means of a wing portion labeled 115 inFIG. 11.

FIGS. 12 and 13 show another form of key in which the bits are providedby a plurality of short pins 118 which project in fixed relation throughthe wall 119 of the key in staggered relation longitudinally of the keyto provide the desired code. The outer ends of the pins may be concealedin any desired manner.

FIGS. 14 and 15 show still another form of key in which a metal strip121 has inwardly punched portions 123 to provide the bits of the key.The staggering of the bits is apparent from FIG. 15. The strip isflexible so that it may be bent to fit in the cylindrical socket of thekey. The strip is secured in place by an adhesive material or in anyother suitable way.

It is apparent that the present invention has provided a lock structurein which the key is very difficult to duplicate because there are noavailable blanks, and furthermore duplication is further rendereddifficult because the fins are disposed on the interior of the tubularportion 79 where they are not very accessible. Also, the thin grooveportions 95 make it diflicult to pick the lock since only a very thininstrument can be used and because of the dimensions of the parts, atypical lock would have dimensions such that a straightened paper clipwould be too large to be inserted into the notch 95. Furthermore, sincethe tumblers 57 have both forward and rearward locking positions, thiswould present a further obstacle to the picking of the lock.

Another advantage of my lock is that the combination can readily bechanged or varied from one lock to the next (or even for the same lock)by locating the detent 44 of the cap 31 in different recesses 45 withthe same loading pattern for the barrel. Since the barrel has sixlug-receiving grooves 87, a key K will be properly received by its lockregardless of which of the six positions the cap occupies.

While the lock shown has six tumblers (which means six of various otherparts) more or less tumblers (and corresponding parts) could beemployed.

Having described the invention in what is considered to be the preferredembodiment thereof, it is desired that it be understood that theinvention is not to be limited other than by the provisions of thefollowing claims.

I claim:

1. In a tumbler lock structure,

a tubular housing having a front end and a rear end,

a barrel mounted in said housing for coaxial rotation therein, andhaving a rest position and an operative position circumferentiallydisplaced from said rest position,

said barrel having formed therein a series of grooves extending radiallyand axially of said barrel,

said housing having front and rear series of notches which are inalignment with said grooves in the rest position of said barrel,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said housing,

a series of tumblers slidably disposed in said grooves and having fingerportions projecting forwardly into the interior of said tubular portionof said key,

means urging said tumblers to assume positions in engagement with saidfront notches but yieldable to allow said tumblers to engage said rearnotches,

said key having within the interior of said tubular portion a series ofbits to engage said finger portions and force said tumblers rearwardlyto separate them from said front notches without causing any of them toengage in said rear notches, and

a latch member fixed to said barrel to be moved between operative toinoperative positions upon appropriate rotation of said barrel.

2. In a tumbler lock structure,

a tubular housing having a front end and a rear end,

a barrel mounted in said housing for coaxial rotation therein, andhaving a rest position and an operative position circumferentiallydisplaced from said rest position,

said barrel having formed therein a series of grooves extending radiallyand axially of said barrel,

said housing having front and rear series of notches which are inalignment with said grooves in the rest position of said barrel,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said housing,

a series of tumblers slidably disposed in said grooves and havingfingers portions projecting forwardly into the interior of said tubularportion of said key,

means urging said tumblers to assume positions in engagement with saidfront notches but yieldable to allow said tumblers to engage said rearnotches,

said key having within the interior of said tubular portion a series ofbits to engage said finger portions and force said tumblers rearwardlyto separate them from said front notches without causing any of them toengage in said rear notches, and

a latch member fixed to said barrel to be moved between operative toinoperative positions upon appropriate rotation of said barrel,

said tumbler having other portions projecting forwardly exterior of saidtubular portion of said key for engagement in said front notches.

3. In a tumbler lock structure,

a tubular housing having a front end and a rear end,

a barrel mounted in said housing for coaxial rotation therein, andhaving a rest position and an operative position circumferentiallydisplaced from said rest position,

said barrel having formed therein a series of grooves extending radiallyand axially of said barrel,

said housing having front and rear series of notches which are inalignment with said grooves in the rest position of said barrel,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said housing,

a series of tumblers slidably disposed in said grooves and having fingerportions projecting forwardly into the interior of said tubular portionof said key,

means urging said tumblers to assume positions in engagement with saidfront notches but yieldable to allow said tumblers to engage said rearnotches,

said key having within the interior of said tubular portion a series ofbits to engage said finger portions and force said tumblers rearwardlyto separate them from said front notches Without causing any of them toengage in said rear notches,

a latch member fixed to said barrel to be moved between operative toinoperative positions upon appropriate rotation of said barrel,

said tumblers also having portions in slidable engagement With theinterior of said housing to be guided thereby.

4. In a tumbler lock structure,

a tubular housing having a front end and a rear end,

a barrel mounted in said housing for coaxial rotation therein, andhaving a rest position and an operative position circumferentiallydisplaced from said rest position,

said barrel being formed with a series of longitudinal guideways,

said housing having front and rear series of notches which are inalignment with said guideways in the rest postion of said barrel,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said housing,

a series of tumblers slidably disposed in said guideways and havingfinger portions projecting forwardly into the interior of said tubularportion of said key,

means urging said tumblers to assume positions in engagement with saidfront notches but yieldable to allow said tumblers to engage said rearnotches,

said key having within the interior of said tubular portion a series ofbits to engage said finger portions and force said tumblers rearwardlyto separate them from said front notches without causing any of them toengage in said rear notches, and

a latch member fixed. to said barrel to be moved between operative andinoperative positions upon appropriate rotation of said barrel.

5. In a tumbler lock structure,

a tubular housing having a front end and -a rear end,

a barrel mounted in said housing for coaxial rotation therein, andhaving a rest position and an operative position circumferentiallydisplaced from said rest position,

7 said barrel being formed with a series of longitudinal guideways,

said housing having front and rear series of notches which are inalignment with said guideways in the rest position of said barrel,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said housing,

a series of tumblers slidably disposed in said guideways and havingfinger portions projecting forwardly into the interior of said tubularportion of said key,

means urging said tumblers to assume positions in engagement with saidfront notches but yieldable to allow said tumblers to engage said rearnotches,

said key having within the interior of said tubular portion a series ofbits to engage said finger portions and force said tumblers rearwardlyto separate them from said front notches without causing any of them toengage in said rear notches, and

a latch member fixed to said barrel to be moved between operative andinoperative positions upon appropriate rotation of said barrel,

said tumbler having other portions projecting forwardly exteriorly ofsaid tubular portion of said key for engagement in said front notches,

said tumblers also having portions in slidable engagement with theinterior of said housing to be guided thereby.

6. In a tumbler lock structure including a lock comprising a tubularhousing having a front end and a rear end,

said housing having a forward and a rearward inward- 1y extendingflange,

said flanges being axially spaced from one another,

a plug-like barrel mounted in said housing and having portions ofcircular cross section slidably engaging the inner surface of saidhousing at places between said flanges and havingoppositely directed,axially facing portions slidably engaging the inner faces of saidflanges,

said barrel having a portion of reduced diameter projecting rearwardlyfrom said housing past said rearward flange,

a latch member secured to the just mentioned portion,

said barrel having a series of circumferentially spaced, radial groovesformed therein opening through the peripheral surface of said barrel,

said grooves extending longitudinally of said barrel,

a generally flat tumbler for each groove slidably disposed therein forlongitudinal movement with respect thereto,

said tumblers slidably engaging the interior of said housing to beguided thereby,

each of said flanges having formed therein, in the inner face thereof, aseries of notches which are in alignment with the grooves in said barrelin one position of rotation of said barrel with respect to said housingand which are of a size to slidably receive said tumblers,

spring means urging said tumblers forwardly to occupy forward positionsin engagement with notches of said forward flange and hence preventrotary movement of said barrel relative to said housing,

said tumblers being capable of being moved rearwardly to assumeintermediate positions where they are 8 a free of both series of notchesand also capable of being moved further rearwardly to engage in thenotches of said rearward flange,

said barrel having a circular, coaxial grove formed in the forwardportion thereof which intersects said radial grooves intermediate theradial length of said grooves,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said groove,

each tumbler having an axially extending notch formed in the forwardportion thereof which is in register with said circular groove so as toprovide a finger portion projecting within said tubular portion of saidkey and to provide a notch engaging portion projecting forwardly next tothe exterior of said tubular portion of said key,

said finger portions being of varying length,

the tubular portion of said key having radial inwardly projecting finsextending axially of said key for engaging said finger portions andhence shift said tumblers rearwardly,

said fins being of varying and inverse length with respect to saidfinger portions so as to assure that all of said tumblers occupy theirintermediate positions to permit rotation of said barrel,

said fins engaging the walls of the radial grooves in said barrel totransmit a circumferentially directed thrust force from said key to saidbarrel.

7. A tumbler lock as set forth in claim 6 in which said barrel comprisesa front section and a rear section, and in which there are keying meansconnecting the sections together.

8. In a tumbler lock structure including a lock comprising a tubularhousing having a front end and a rear end, I

said housing having a forward and a rearward inwardly extending flange,

said flanges being axially spaced from one another,

a plug-like barrel mounted in said housing and having portions ofcircular cross section slidably engaging the inner surface of saidhousing at places between said flanges and having oppositely directed,axially facing portions slidably engaging the inner faces of saidflanges,

said barrel having a portion of reduced diameter projecting rearwardlyfrom said housing past said rearward flange,

a latch member secured to the just mentioned portion,

said barrel having a series of circumferentially spaced,

radial grooves formed therein opening through the peripheral surface ofsaid barrel,

said grooves extending longitudinally of said barrel,

a generally flat tumbler for each groove slidably disposed therein forlongitudinal movement with respect thereto,

said tumblers slidably engaging the interior of said housing to beguided thereby, each of said flanges having formed therein, in the innerface thereof, a series of notches which are in alignment with thegrooves in said barrel in one position of rotation of said barrel withrespect to said housing and which are of a size to slidably receive saidtumblers, spring means urging said tumblers forwardly to occupy forwardpositions in engagement with the notches of said forward flange andhence prevent rotary movement of said barrel relative to said housa saidtumblers being capable of being moved rearwardly to assume intermediatepositions Where they are free of both series of notches and also capableof being moving further rearwardly to engage in the notches of saidrearward flange,

said barrel having a circular, coaxial groove formed in the forwardportion thereof which intersects said radial grooves intermediate theradial length of said grooves,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said groove,

each tumbler having an axially extending notch formed in the forwardportion thereof which is in register with said circular groove so as toprovide a finger portion projecting within said tubular portion of saidkey and to provide a notch engaging portion projecting forwardly next tothe exterior of said tubular portion of said key,

said finger portions being of varying length,

the tubular portion of said key having radial inwardly projecting finsextending axially of said key for engaging said finger portions andhence shift said tumblers rearwardly,

said fins being of varying and inverse length with respect to saidfinger portions so as to assure that all of said tumblers occupy theirintermediate positions to permit rotation of said barrel,

said fins engaging the walls of the radial grooves in said barrel totransmit a circumferentially directed thrust force from said key to saidbarrel,

said forward flange having a radial notch formed in the inner peripheraledge thereof,

said barrel having a recess formed in the forward portion thereof inalignment with the just-mentioned notch,

said key having an exterior lug for fitting in such notch and recess,

said forward flange having a recess on the inner face thereofcommunicating with the notch in said flange to accommodate said lug atthe time of rotation of said barrel.

9. In a tumbler lock structure including a lock comprising a tubularhousing having a front end and a rear end,

said housing having a forward and a rearward inwardly extending flange,

said flanges being axially spaced from one another,

a plug-like barrel mounted in said housing and having portions ofcircular cross section slidably engaging the inner surface of saidhousing at places between said flanges and having oppositely directed,axially facing portions slidably engaging the inner faces of saidflanges,

said barrel having a portion of reduced diameter projecting rearwardlyfrom said housing past said rearward flange,

a latch member secured to the just mentioned portion,

said barrel having a series of circumferentially spaced, radial groovesformed therein opening through the peripheral surface of said barrel,

said grooves extending longitudinally of said barrel,

a generally flat tumbler for each groove slidably disposed therein forlongitudinal movement with respect thereto,

said tumblers slidably engaging the interior of said housing to beguided thereby,

each of said flanges having formed therein, in the inner face thereof, aseries of notches which are in alignment with the grooves in said barrelin one position of rotation of said barrel with respect to said housingand which are of a size to slidably receive said tumblers,

spring means urging said tumblers forwardly to occupy forward positionsin engagement with notches of said forward flange and hence preventrotary movement of said barrel relative to said housing,

said tumblers being capable of being moved rearwardly to assumeintermediate positions where they are free of both series of notches andalso capable of being moved further rearwardly to engage in the notchesof said rearward flange,

said barrel having a circular, coaxial groove formed in the forwardportion thereof which intersects said radial grooves intermediate theradial length of said grooves,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said groove,

each tumbler having a axially extending notch formed in the forwardportion thereof which is in register with said circular groove so as toprovide a finger portion projecting within said tubular portion of saidkey and to provide a notch engaging portion projecting forwardly next tothe exterior of said tubular portion of said key,

said finger portions being of varying length,

the tubular portion of said key having radial inwardly projecting finsextending axially of said key for engaging said finger portions andhence shift said tumblers rearwardly,

said fins being of varying and inverse length with respect to saidfinger portions so as to assure that all of said tumblers occupy theirintermediate positions to permit rotation of said barrel,

said fins engaging the walls of the radial grooves in said barrel totransmit a circumferentially directed thrust force from said key to saidbarrel,

said forward flange having a radial notch formed in the inner peripheraledge thereof,

said barrel having a recess formed in the forward portion thereof inalignment with the just-mentioned notch,

said key having an exterior lug for fitting in such notch and recess,

said forward flange having a recess on the inner face thereofcommunicating with the notch in said flange to accommodate said lug atthe time of rotation of said barrel,

said fins being narrower than said tumblers,

each of the radial grooves in said barrel being narrower at the frontportions thereof than the associated tumbler so as to guide theassociated fin into full abutting engagement with such tumbler.

10. In a tumbler lock structure,

a tubular housing having a front end and a rear end,

a barrel mounted in said housing for coaxial rotation therein, andhaving a rest position and an operative position circumferentiallydisplaced from said rest position,

said barrel having formed therein a series of grooves extending radiallyand axially of said barrel,

said housing having a series of notches which are in alignment with saidgrooves in the rest position of said barrel,

a key having a tubular portion projecting into said housing,

a series of tumblers slidably disposed in said grooves and having fingerportions projecting forwardly into the interior of said tubular portionof said key,

means urging said tumblers to assume positions in engagement with saidnotches but yieldable to allow sepration therefrom said key havingwithin the interior of said tubular portion a series of bits to engagesaid finger portions and force said tumblers rearwardly to separate themfrom said front notches, and

a latch member fixed to said barrel to be moved between operative toinoperative positions upon appropriate rotation of said barrel.

11. In a tumbler lock structure including a lock comprising a tubularhousing having a front end and a rear end,

said housing having a forward and a rearward inwardly extending flange,

said flanges being axially spaced from one another,

a plug-like barrel mounted in said housing and having portions ofcircular cross section slidably engaging 3,2 "l l the inner surface ofsaid housing at places between said flanges and having oppositelydirected, axially facing portions slidably engaging the inner faces ofsaid flanges,

said barrel having a portion of reduced diameter projecting rearwardlyfrom said housing past said rearward flange,

a latch member secured to the just-mentioned portion,

said barrel having a series of circumferentially spaced, radial groovesformed therein opening through the peripheral surface of said barrel,

said grooves extending longitudinally of said barrel,

a generally flat tumbler for each groove slidably disposed therein forlongitudinal movement with respect thereto,

said tumblers slidably engaging the interior of said housing to beguided thereby,

each of said flanges having formed therein, in the inner face thereof, aseries of notches which are in alignment with the grooves in said barrelin one position of rotation of said barrel with respect to said housingand which are of a size to slidably receive said tumblers,

spring means urging said tumblers forwardly to occupy forward positionsin engagement With the notches of said forward flange and hence preventrotary movement of said barrel relative to said housing,

said tumblers being capable of being moved rearwardly to assumeintermediate positions where they are free of both series of notches andalso capable of being moved further rearwardly to engage in the notchesof said rearward flange,

said barrel having a circular, coaxial groove formed in a the forwardportion thereof which intersects said radial grooves intermediate theradial length of said grooves,

said circular groove adapted to receive a tubular portion of a key,

each tumbler having an axially extending notch formed in the forwardportion thereof which is in register with said circular groove so as toprovide a finger portion for projecting within the tubular portion ofsuch key and to provide a notch engaging portion for projectingforwardly next to the exterior of the tubular portion of such key,

said finger portions being of varying length to adapt them for matingengagement with radial inwardly projecting fins on the tubular portionof such key to enable said tumblers to be shifted rearwardly.

12. A key for a tumbler type lock of the type having a plurality oftumblers mounted for movement along parallel paths which are disposed.in spaced circumferential relation about a predetermined axis, said keycomprising,

a body having a cylindrical wall portion for insertion into such lock insurrounding relation to at least certain portions of said tumblers andin coaxial relation to said axis,

a plurality of bits within said cylindrical wall portion and disposed inspaced relation about the axis of said cylindrical wall portion so as toregister with said certain portions of said tumblers,

the inner portions of said bits being disposed inwardly of the innersurface of said cylindrical wall portion,

the front faces of said bits being staggered in relation to the lengthof said cylindrical Wall portion so as to provide a code matching thecode of the lock,

said bits being fixedly secured to and carried by said body,

said bits comprising fins projecting inwardly from the cylindrical wallportion.

13. A key for a tumbler type lock of the type having a plurality oftumblers mounted along parallel paths which are disposed in spacedcircumferential relation about a predetermined axis, said keycomprising,

a body having a cylindrical wall portion for insertion into such lock insurrounding relation to at least certain portions of said tumblers .andin coaxial relation to said axis,

a plurality of bits within said cylindrical wall portion and disposed inspaced relation about the axis of said cylindrical wall portion so as toregister with said certain portions of said tumblers,

the inner portions of said bits being disposed inwardly of the innersurface of said cylindrical wall portion,

the front faces of said bits being staggered in relation to the lengthof said cylindrical wall portion so as to provide a code matching thecode of the lock,

said bits being fixedly secured to and carried by said body,

said bits comprising a plurality of pins projecting radially throughsaid cylindrical wall portion.

14. A key for a tumbler type lock of the type having a plurality oftumblers mounted for movement along parallel paths which are disposed inspaced circumferential relation about a predetermined axis, said keycomprising,

a body having a cylindrical wall portion for insertion into such lock insurrounding relation to at least certain portions of said tumblers andin coaxial relation to said axis,

a plurality of bits within said cylindrical wall portion and disposed inspaced relation about the axis of said cylindrical wall portion so as toregister with said certain portions of said tumblers,

the inner portions of said bits being disposed inwardly of the innersurface of said cylindrical wall portion,

the front faces of said bits being staggered in relation to the lengthof said cylindrical wall portion so as to provide a code matching thecode of the lock,

said bits being fixedly secured to and carried by said body,

said cylindrical wall portion including an outer portion and an innerportion,

said inner portion comprising a strip which is separate from said outerportion and which has inwardly bent portions which constitute said bits.

15. A key for a tumbler type lock of the type having a plurality oftumblers mounted for movement along parallel paths which are disposed inspaced circumferential relation about a predetermined axis, said keycomprising:

a cylindrical portion for insertion into such lock in surroundingrelation to at least certain portions of said tumblers and in coaxialrelation to said axis,

a plurality of bits within said cylindrical portion and disposed inspaced relation about the axis of said cylindrical portion so as toregister with said certain portions of said tumblers,

the front faces of said bits being staggered in relation to the lengthof said cylindrical portion so as to provide a code matching the code ofthe lock,

said bits being in the form of pins,

a plug carrying said pins,

said plug being fixedly disposed in said cylindrical portion,

said plug having a plurality of peripheral recesses,

said cylindrical portion having a keying lug therein optionally to fitin said recesses.

16. A key for a lock of the type. having coded elements which must bematched by coded elements of said key to enable said key to be rotatedwithin said lock,

said key comprising a body having a cylindrical wall portion forinsertion into such lock,

a plurality of bits within said cylindrical wall portion and disposed inspaced relation about the axis thereof and being variously dimensionedin a direction parallel to said axis in a manner to match the code ofthe coded elements of said lock whereby to facilitate ro- 13 tation of.said key relative to said lock after said key has been insertedtherein, said bits comprising elements fixed to said cylindrical Wallportion and projecting inwardly from the inner surface of saidcylindrical wall portion.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 14 1,664,0423/1928 McGinley 70404 X 1,721,747 7/1929 Radosevic 70393 X 2,993,3617/1961 Van Lahr 70363 FOREIGN PATENTS 534,215 1/ 1922 France.

JOSEPH D. SEERS, Primary Examiner.

ALBERT H. KAMPE, Examiner.

B. R. GAY, Assistant Examiner.

16. A KEY FOR A LOCK OF THE TYPE HAVING CODED ELEMENTS WHICH MUST BEMATCHED BY CODED ELEMENTS OF SAID KEY TO ENABLE SAID KEY TO BE ROTATEDWITHIN SAID LOCK, SAID KEY COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A CYLINDRICAL WALLPORTION FOR INSERTION INTO SUCH LOCK, A PLURALITY OF BITS WITHIN SAIDCYLINDRICAL WALL PORTION AND DISPOSED IN SPACED RELATION IN A DIRECTIONPARALAND BEING VARIOUSLY DIMENSIONED IN A DIRECTION PARALLEL TO SAIDAXIS IN A MANNER TO MATCH THE CODE OF THE CODED ELEMENTS OF SAID LOCKWHEREBY TO FACILITATE ROTATION OF SAID KEY RELATIVE TO SAID LOCK AFTERSAID KEY HAS BEEN INSERTED THEREIN,